Journal-box-securing mechanism.



P. J. HOWARD. JOURNALBOX SECURING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17. 1914.

1 ,Q29,6 1 7. 7 Patented June 12,1917.

@TA I rail PLINY J. HOWARD, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL MALLEABLE CASTINGS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

JOURNALBOX-SECURI1\TG MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12,1917.

Application filed September 17, 1914:. Serial no. 862,154.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PLINY J. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in JournaLBOX-Securing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, showing a journal box secured to a side frame by mechanism embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a section on lines IIII of Fig. 1 5 Fig. 3 is a section on lines III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. at is a detail of the wedge key; Fig. 5 is a section of a modified form of my invention, and Fig. 6 is a section thereof on lines VI VI of Fig. 5.

My invention relates to journal boxes and side frames of the type in which the journal box is intended to be secured against bearing faces on th truck side frame extending at an angle to each other, and it consists in providing an adjustable retaining mechanism which is adapted to take up the slack between the journal box and the side frame so that the journal box will be clamped tightly against the hearing or seating faces on the side frame. My invention also consists in the construction and cooperation of parts which I shall hereinafter describe.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the side frame and B the journal box. The side frame is provided with bearing faces 2 and 3, against which corresponding surfaces 1 and 5 of the journal box bear. The box is provided with a flanged groove 6 extended along its outer side and underneath its bottom, for the reception of a strap or bolt 7, the ends of which are adapted to be passed through the elongated aperture 8 in the bearing face 2 and into the aperture or recess 9 in the bearing face 3 of the side frame A. The belt 7 is of L-shape, and may be of any desirable cross section. Each end of the bolt is provided with adjustable means for drawing that end inwardly toward the frame, thereby securing the box to the side frame. The adjustable means preferably consists in slots 10 in the bolt, and in split keys 11 of wedge shape, which, when driven in, bear on one side against the slot and the other side against the side frame. As the wedge keys 11 are driven in they draw up the ends of the bolt 7 until it secures the journal box tightly in its bearings 2 and 3, and the keys 11 are then looked in place by opening out or bending their split ends.

It is obvious that the construction which I have described is of great advantage, since in the manufacture of journal boxes and side frames normally secured together by nuts and bolts the side of the boxes and the distances between the cavities provided for securing the bolts will vary by reason of nonuniform shrinkages in the cast metal and will thus prevent the desired fit of the bolts and the boxes from being obtained. Hence, in some cases it is difficult to insert the bolts, because the lit is too tight, and in others the bolts will not hold the box tight enough, although the nuts have been tightened down as far as possible. lVith my improved construction, however, this cannot occur, since the wedge keys 11 provide a take-up at both ends of the bolt 7 and compensate both for wear and variations in size of the boxes and in the distance between the bearings on the side frame for the wedge keys.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown amodified form of my construction, in which I have provided a washer or retainer 12, which slips over the end of the bolt 7 after it is in posi tion, and rests on the shelves or shoulders 13 on the side frame, and thus prevents the bolt from slipping out of the recess 9 even if it becomes loose. This retainer 12 is held in place by the split key. If desired, the retainer 12 may be omitted, in which case, even if looseness occurs, the end of the bolt cannot slip out of the recess, because the wedge key 11 will engage the shoulders 13.

Various modifications may be made in the constructions which I have described and shown herein, without departing from my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In journal box securing mechanism, atruek side frame having two bearing faces at an angle to each other, a journal box seated on said faces, a strap arranged to hold the box against said faces, and wedging means cooperating with each end of the strap, each such wedging means being adapted to draw an end of the strap and with it the ournal box in a direction substantially at right angles to one of said bearing faces.

2. In journal box securing mechanism, a truck side frame having two bearing faces at an angle to each other, a journal box seated on said faces, a strap arranged to secure the box against said faces, the said strap havingslots therein, and Wedging keys engaging said slots and being adapted to draw the strap tightly against said box and secure it to said side frame.

3. In journal box securing mechanism, a truck side frame having tWo bearing faces at an angle to each other, a journal box seated on said faces having a strap engaging said journal box and having its ends seated in apertures in the side frame, Wedges adapted to hold the strap tightly against said box, and a retainer adapted to hold one end of the strap in position in one of said apertures, regardless of the Wedges.

for the holding strap bearing against shoulders in the truck side frame, Wedging means cooperating With the retainer for tightening the strap against the box, and means on the frame for holding the retainer and through it the bolt in operative position.

PLINY J. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

HARRY E. ORR, HUBERT L. SPENCE.

I Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents ,each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

